Tablet and suppository press



f March 7, 1939. Jj LANGERMAN TABLET AND SUPPOSITORY PRESS Filed June25,1938

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 7, 1939 s PATENT yWorries TABLET ANDISUPPOSITORY PRESS Jonas Langerman, New York, N. Y., assignor of One-halfto S01 Gaswirth, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 23, 1938, Serial N0. 215,432

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a press for forming tablets,lozenges and suppositories, but more specifically to a press wherein thesizes of the tablets, lozenges and suppositories are made variablewithout the use of extra parts and wherein the same parts of the pressalso serve as an adjustable measuring cup for dispensing or packaging ofpharmaceutical powders.

The main object of the invention resides in the provision of a presswherein the same parts are adaptable to make tablets, lozenges andsuppositories of various sizes; wherein the press is comprised of a.minimum number of simple parts; wherein the press is easy to operate,economical to manufacture, and employable also as a measuring device. Y

A further object` of the invention resides in the provision of a presswhich is portable, whose parts are adjustable and which is light inweight. 20 These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of theinvention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure andas pointed out in the appended claims.'

Accompanying this specification is a drawing showing a preferred form ofthe invention wherein corresponding reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a' front view in elevation of the press part being shown insection.

Figure 2 is a front View in elevation partly in section showing acompression block with which the press cooperates.

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the press adjusted to anelongated position.

Figure 5 is similar to Figure 2 of the compression block partly insection showing a suppository mold therein.

In accordance with the invention and in accordance with the preferredform thereof shown in the drawing, the press comprises a plunger shaft Ihaving a pounding member II at the bottom thereof, the said shaft havingits upper portion I2 threaded. A tube I3 is adapted to be in slidableengagement with shaft I0, the pounding member I I serving as a lowerstop therefor.

Aspringably returnable depressing member I4 is adapted to be slidablyengageable with the upper portion of tube I3, the said member having atop head I provided with a central and internally threaded orice forengagement with the threaded portion I2 of the plunger shaft. A lock nutI6 is provided for head I5, while a coiled ill compression spring Il,adapted to make the de.- pressing member I4 returnable after handpressure is applied to lock nut I6, lies between the outer surface ofshaft portion I3 and the inner surface of the depressing member Ill, thesaid spring II being held at the upper and lower limits between theundersurface of head I5 and the upper edge of tube I3.

A slidably engageable barrel member is adapted to be adjustably aflixedto the tube I3 by means of a set screw I9 mounted on circular flange 20.Shaft tube I3 may be provided with calibrations 2I whereby the volume ofa receptacle 22 formed between the undersurface of pounding member IIand the inner walls of barrel 22 near the bottom is adjustable. Thus, byloosening set screw I9 and moving barrel I8 to an upper position alongtube I3, receptacle 22 becomes smaller in volume. By moving barrel I8 toa lower position along tube I3 as is shown in Figure 4, the volume isincreased as indicated by numeral 23.

The pounding member I I is forced downwardly withinl barrel I8 byapplying hand pressure to the springably returnable depressing memberI6, the latter having the upper end of barrel I8 to serve as Aa stop forthe lower limit of the-said depressing member. A compression block 25 isprovided with a tablet or lozenge mold 26 on one side and a suppositorymold 2l on the other side, the said molds cooperating with and engagingthe lower portion of barrel I8.

The press as described is suitable for the formation of tablets,suppositories, lozenges and is also employable as a measuring device.

In the formation of tablets, the material therefor is contained in asuitable container, the material being moistened or dampened with aproper liquid mixture similar to that used in making tablet triturates.The graduations 2| are calibrated for specific weights of U. S. P. milkof sugar, When the latter is used as a vehicle. For any other substance,the adjustment of the press is determined by weighing the tabletmaterial, inserting the same in receptacle 22 while the press isinverted and while the set screw I9 is loose and compressing the storedmaterial in receptacle 22 by compressing it lightly in block 25. Aftersuch compression, the set screw I9 is tightened. In this fashion, thereceptacle 22 is adjusted so that the operator in preparing to make uptablets of the aforementioned weight, merely dips the press firmly intothe tablet substance, removes the press therefrom and places it intomold 25. A knock with the palm of the hand on lock nut IB compresses,iii-terrien the tablet against the bottom surface of mold 26,

the formed tablet remaining within the lower" part of the barrel belowpoundling member Il. The tablet is then pushed out by means ofcompression of plunger I0 after the block 25 has been removed from thepress.

For the formation of suppositories, the same method of procedure isadopted except that the plunger shaft I0 is elongated relative to headI5. In order to elongate shaft I0, the lock nut I6 is removed as well asbarrel member I8. 'Ihe pounding member Il is grasped by the finger androtated about head I5, whereby the shaft I0 becomes elongated. Suchadjustable elongation or shortening of shaft Ill controls the distancewhich pounding member II projects from the lower edge of barrel I8 whenvthe depressing member I4 is at its lower limit. The pressing memberengages with suppository mold 2l instead of tablet mold 26 for theformation of suppositories.

In the formation of lozenges, the same construction is used as for theformation of tablets except that all the parts are enlarged.

Where it is desired toy use theV press as a. measuring cup, the operatorinverts the press' and loosens set screw I9 so that barrel I8 isslidable along the shaft tube I3. The barrel I8 is raised above thepounder II while pouring powder in the receptacle formed thereby.Thereafter, block 25 is placed over the end of barrel I8 and the saidbarrel is released until it comes to a stop. At this point, the setscrew I9 is tightened. In this fashion, the press is used as a measuringdevice by merely dipping the implement into the powder to be dispensedwith a rlrm and even pressure. Thereafter, the powder is forced out intonarrow containers or any desired receptacles by depressing plunger shaftI0.

I Wish it understood that minorchanges and variations in theintegration, material, location and movability ofthe parts, may all beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention andwithout departing from the sco-pe of the appended claims.

I claim: Y

l. A tablet, lozenge and suppository press comprising a compressionblock having a mold therein, aplunger having a pounding member at theend thereof, a tube slidably engaging said Yplunger above the poundingmember, a springablyreturnable depressing member for the plunger beingadjustably secured to the said plunger and being in slidableV engagementwith the upper end of said tube, a barrel member adjustably secured tothe tubular member and forming a receptacle at the bottom thereof with apounding member, the top of the barrel member serving as a stop for thedepressing member, the lower end of the barrel member being adapted toengage the mold of the compression block whereby on forcing the plungerdownwardly, compression of the tablet, lozenge and suppository materialtakes place within the barrel below the'lower surface of the poundingmember.

2. A tablet, lozenge and suppository press comprising a compressionblock having a mold therein, a body member, a plunger having a poundingmember at the end thereof, the said plunger above the pounding memberbeing in slidable engagement Within said body member, adjustable andspringably returnable means secured to the plunger for depressing thelatter, a barrel member adjustably secured to the body member andforming a variably sized receptacle at the bottom thereof with thepounding member, the lower end Vof the barrel member being adapted toengage the mold of the compression block whereby on forcing the plungerdownwardly, compression of the tablet, lozenge and suppository materialtakes place within the barrel below the lower surface of the poundingmember.

3. A tablet, lozenge and suppository press comprising a compressionblock having a mold therein, a1 body member, a movable pounding memberin slidable engagement within said body member,

Vadjustable and springably returnable means secured to the poundingmember for depressing the latter, a barrel member adjustably secured tothe body member and forming a variably sized receptacle Ywith thepounding member, the lower end of the barrel member being adapted toengage the mold-cf the compression block whereby secured to thepounding` member for depressingy the latter, a barrel member adjustablysecured to the body member and forming a variably sized receptacle withthe pounding member.

' JONAS LANGERMAN.

